Jersey City man charged with attempted murder after taking cops for ride: authorities

What appeared to be a routine motor vehicle stop turned into a wild ride for two Jersey City police officers early this morning.

When the two officers pulled over John Windley, 34, of Jersey City, at 12:45 a.m. at Kearney and Bergen Avenues, they saw a handgun in the vehicle, the Hudson County Prosecutor Office said in a news release this afternoon.

When the cops attempted to arrest Windley, the Fulton Avenue resident fled in the vehicle with both officers hanging onto the moving vehicle, Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Gene Rubino said.

At that point, the officers, whose names were not released, fired their weapons, but no one was struck by the gunfire, Rubino said.

A 64-year-old man living near the intersection of Kearney and Bergen Avenues who declined to give his name said this morning that he heard three shots being fired while he was watching TV.

One of the officers fell from the moving vehicle and the other entered the vehicle through the sunroof and struggled with Windley before the vehicle stopped at the intersection of Bergen and Boyd avenues.

Windley fled on foot and discarded his semi-automatic handgun and ammunition along the route, Rubino said. He was quickly apprehended and arrested by Jersey City police and the firearm was recovered.

A 35-year-old man living near where Windley fled from his vehicle who declined to give his name said this morning that he came out of his home to see what was going on after hearing gunshots.

He said numerous police cars had parked on the block and that he heard one officer approach several others, asking "How many of you guys fired shots?"

Windley was charged with attempted murder, eluding, resisting arrest, and other weapons offenses, inlcuding certain person not to have a weapon. He and one of the officers were taken to the Jersey City Medical Center.

Windley did not appear in court today, as he was still being treated at the JCMC, court officials said. It was reported earlier that police exchanged fire with the man, but the Prosecutor's Office said only the police officers fired their weapons.